The Solicitors Regulation Authority has taken intervention action against Kingly Solicitors Limited, trading as Richard Herne Co, Hancock Quins, Austin Ray, Ray Nixon Brown, Beesons, Cole, Hughmans, Giffen Couch & Archer.
Although suspected wrongdoing has only taken place at Kingly Solicitors, under SRA rules all firms owned by the business are affected and must cease work.
The regulator gave the following reasons for closing the business:
The firm has not complied with one or more of the terms of its licence (paragraph 1(2)(a) of Schedule 14 to Legal Services Act 2007); and
There is reason to suspect dishonesty by Nurul Miah as a manager of the firm in connection with the firm’s business, or any trust of which the firm is or was a trustee or any trust of which Nurul Miah is or was a trustee in his capacity as a manager.
Tony Taylor of Giffen Couch & Archer in Leighton Buzzard, who was the owner and Managing Director at the time of the sale to Kingly, is reported as saying:
“The closure of the firm has been a brutal shock to all of us. Although GC&A became part of Kingly Solicitors in April this year it has been managed as a completely separate and independent entity and has maintained the highest standards of service, honesty and integrity.
“Solicitors Regulation Authority rules mean that, in cases such as this any firm owned by a third party under investigation must also stop work. Giffen Couch & Archer is just one of some 16 solicitors offices affected.
“It’s a harsh rule, but particularly when no wrong doing by GC&A has occurred.
“The sale of our firm had promised new opportunities for all of us at Bridge Street, and our clients. The future looked very bright.”
The full list of firms affected are:
Kingly Solicitors Limited, Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER
Richard Herne & Co, 113 High Street, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5HF
Hancock Quins, 22 Station Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1ER
Austin Ray, 74-76 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2SA
Nixon Brown, 4&6 Church Square, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 1AE
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 52-54 Market Place, Market Weighton, YO43 3AL
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 2 Duck Hill, Ripon, HG4 1BL
Kingly Solicitors Limited, Oriel House, Calverts Lane, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1SW
Kingly Solicitors Limited, Town Hall, Settle, BD24 9EJ
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 96 Micklegate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JX
Kingly Solicitors Limited, Century House, Thornfield Business Park, Standard Way, Northallerton, DL6 2XQ
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 54 Station Road, Redcar, TS10 1AG
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 5 Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 1EQ (
Kingly Solicitors Limited, 22 Lairgate, Beverley, HU17 8EP
Giffen Couch & Archer, Bridge House, Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EB
Intervening Agents
For Kingly Solicitors Limited and for Kingly Solicitors Limited using the trading names Richard Herne & Co, Hancock Quins, Austin Ray, Ray Nixon Brown, Beesons and Hughmans, the intervention agent is:
James Dunn, Devonshires Solicitors LLP, 30 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7DT. Email: Intervention-team@devonshires.co.uk, Tel: 0207 065 1830.
For Kingly Solicitors Limited using the trading name Coles Solicitors and for GC&A Limited (Giffen Couch & Archer) the intervention agent is:
John Owen, Gordons LLP, 1 New Augustus Street, Bradford, BD1 5LL. Email: kingly@gordonsllp.com, Tel: 0113 227 0360.
Comments (5)
Sledgehammer to crack a nut. The SRA needs to have a long look at itself and reform its working practices.
It looks more and more foolhardy with each passing case. Embarrassing.
Actions of imbeciles
I have known Giffen Couch and Archer, Ray Nixon Brown, Beesons and Austin Ray for 40 years. They are all good professional people and I personally, I have no reason to doubt or suspect any of them of anything other than being complete professionals. This is truly shocking for them all and for them to lose their jobs is a further blow.
This is devastating too for their loyal clients. The announcement last week sent shock waves through the local markets and not a little panic with some clients on the point of exchange and completion, but within a week the dust is settling. The 2 “intervention solicitors” practices have been incredibly professional and helpful.
I appreciate the SRA had to act, but they surely must review their own systems and procedures, to close down long established, highly reputable firms with great staff and a huge client base built over decades is not right.
Our antiquated legal system needs seriously looking at. This seems utterly heavy-handed and not in the best interest of anyone, particularly the clients. Surely an investigation first to ascertain any wrongdoing within any of these other firms would be sensible. Not just closing down long-standing reputable offices because of an ivory tower crook. Too many people lose their jobs and reputations because of one man at this moment. Ridiculous!
The law lost all logic.. and the law won.